Margin return automatically actuated by spacer bar



Dec. 22, 1964 J. T. DAVIES 3,162,289

MARGIN RETURN AUTOMATICALLY ACTUATED BY SPACER BAR Filed Dec. 4, 1961 g 9 INVENTOR.

Jobw 2. DAVIES 4770AEY United States Patent Office 3,162,289 Patented Dec. 22, 1964 3,162,289 MARGIN RETURN AUTOMATICALLY ACTUA'IED BY SPAtCER BAR John T. Davies, 2023 Stevens Ave, Minneapolis, Minn. Filed Dec. 4, 1961, Ser. No. 156,653 4 Claims. (Cl. 19765) This invention relates to improvements in typewriters and more particularly to an automatically actuated margin return for electric typewriters.

During the operation of electric typewriters, the typists hands assume a natural and comfortable position over the keyboard wherein depression of the majority of the keys may be accomplished by the fingers without relative movement of the hands. In this natural position, the typists thumbs also assume a natural position with respect to the spacer bar, which extends for a considerable distance over the width of the keyboard area. When the typist has typed to the end of a line or right hand margin of the paper. it is necessary to depress a return key to commence typing on a new line at the left hand margin.

The depression of the return key is an unnatural act since it is located at either extreme side of the keyboard and the typist must thus move the hand from the normal and 'by simply depressing the spacer bar which in turn will then cause the return mechanism to operate.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a means for preconditioning of the spacer bar of an electric typewriter so that during a predetermined space interval, depression of the spacer bar will automatically cause a relative return movement between the right and left hand margins and the typewriter chassis. Another object of this invention is to provide a margin return means, as set forth above, which will prevent the 'typist from typing additional words within a predeterf'mined space interval which is near the right hand margin,

thus requiring less concentration to properly end a line. As a result, there will appear a neater margin on the finally typed page.

A, further object of this invention is to provide a margin return means which requires only a minimum modification of present electric typewriter designs, and also incorporates a minimum of modifying component elements.

A still further object is to provide a margin return means which is reliable in operation and simple in design.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description, made in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a pictorial view of the basic parts of a typewriter necessary to understand the invention together with the elements which constitute the invention. This view shows the elements of this invention in an unactuated position; and,

FIGURE 2 is a similar View to that of FIGURE 1 but having the elements of the invention shown in the actuated position whereby depression of the spacer bar will automatically cause a return from the right margin to the left.

Referring to FIGURE 1, a typewriter is depicted having a margin rack 11 which is usually an integral part of the movable paper holding carriage on some typewriters or an integral part of the chassis on the type- ,writers which do not have a movable paper holding carriage but rather a movable typing mechanism such as the more recent models have. Included with the margin rack 11 is also a conventional margin stop 12 that is movable along the toothed surface 13. The margin stop shown represents the margin stop which determines the distance to be typed toward the right hand edge of the paper.

Also forming a part of the typewriter elements which are utilized in accomplishing the operation of this invention is a spacer means such as spacer bar 14 mounted by leg members 15 to a rocker dowel 16. In the usual situation, the rocker dowel is directly linked to the spacing lever 17, however, in this instance the direct linkage is broken and another means is provided for actuating the spacing lever. In addition to the elements just mentioned, a margin return, or what is often referred to on conventional carriage typewriters as a carriage return lever 18, is shown. Both the spacing lever 17 and the margin return lever 18 have a foot projection 19 and 20 respectively which allows the automatic actuations thereof, as will be set forth subsequently. In addition, the margin return lever is provided with a key 21 which, in the usual way, allows the typist to energize the lever 18 whenever desired.

Constituting one of the modifying elements of the invention is a cam actuator 22. This is a small, lightweight and rigid element which is fixedly secured to the rearward side of the margin stop 12 by a fastening means such as screws 23. The cam actuator is provided with a cam surface at the leading end 24 and the releasing end 25, both of which serve to engage with, and give smooth actuation and release of, a rocker lever 26 when the typewriter carriage reaches an interval in the line of typing when the preconditioning is desired.

The rocker lever consists of a hook-shaped linkage element having a reverse bend 27 separating a lever arm 28, extending to the left edge of the typewriter frame and terminating outwardly in an eye 29, and a hook arm 3% which terminates upwardly in a roller 31. The reverse bend is pivotally fixed to the main frame (not specifically shown) by a pivot pin 32. Thus, as a typewriter carriage and rack, of the typewriters having movable paper holding carriage, advance in the direction of arrow 33, the leading edge 24 of cam actuator 22 will encounter the roller 31 and subsequently force hook arm 30 to arcuately move about pivot pin 32. This movement will be directly transmitted to the lever arm 28 which, as indicated, will cause a downward movement of eye 29 as seen in FIG- URE 2.

The downward movement of eye 29 will cause end 34 of pivot lever 35 to arcuately move in a vertical direction also. A pivot pin 36 secures pivot lever 35 to the typewriter main frame whereby the linkage (pivot lever 35) will have an actuating end 37 at the opposite side of the pivot pin 36. When the linkage elements 26 and 35 are in the preconditioned or actuated position, as shown in FIGURE 2, the actuating end 37 will have been moved vertically from its rest position, as shown in FIGURE 1 to the position of FIGURE 2. This movement will in turn cause an L-shaped elbow lever 38 to be actuated.

The elbow lever 38, as more clearly shown in FIG- URE 1, has a horizontal arm 39 joined to a vertical arm 40 at a right angle bend 41. Positioned through the bend 41 is a dowel pin 42 which also pivotally connects the elbow lever to the typewriter framework. In

- xIf desired, the cam actuator allow a spacing "*movemenL.

3 dial portion 44 extendingfor substantially the. w the typewriter and terminating'at the ends in'bends 45 idth or r and 46. These bends are adapted to overlie either'of 7 which lie on a common axis. The pivot extensions are slidably journaled through portions of the typewriter frame such .as indicated by elements 50.

As seen in each of the figures, and particularly FIG- URE 2,. pivot extension 49 terminates inan end .51 which rrests against the vertical arm .40 of the elbow lever .38.

Upon vertical movement of the actuating end 37, a horizontal force will ,he imparted upon end 51 by way of the pivoting of elbowlever 38 about pin 42.- Through the 7 action of these forces, the margin return rod43 will be shifted laterally to the actuated position of FIGURE 2.

Forming a'bias means for maintaining the carriage return rod 43 in the normal position of-FIGURE 1, is a light tension spring 52 secured to one of the bar portions 47. The spring is anchored to another portion of the typewriter 'frame such as element 53.

Finally, a lastrnodifying element of this inventionis amargin return rod actuator 54 which consists of arigid plate fixedly secured to the spacer bar 14 in such a manner as to overlie the medial portion 44 in close clearance. Thus, when the spacer bar 14 is depressed, the margin return rod 43 will be causedto arcuately pivot about the horizontal axis'running through the pivot extensions 48 and 49. 7

With the above disclosur seen that depressing the spacer bar will in turn cause either bend 45 or 46 to descend downwardly upon the foot projection 19 of spacing lever 17, or foot projection As mentioned previously,i the cam actuator is also provided with a cammed releasing end 25. Through this provision, the interval of spaces for which return of the carriage will result, from depressing the spacer bar 14, is limited to the length of the cam actuator. Thus the typist may type' beyond the right hand margin .if desired 7 without the carriage returning upon depressing the spacer bar. This .is, however, dependent upon the releasing end 25, of cam actuator 22, moving beyond roller 31 at r a point coinciding with the right'hand margin limit, thus allowing the carriage return rod to return under its spring bias to its normal position. Itmay, however, be

1 :desirable to make the cam actuator of substantial length whereby the cammed releasing end will actually never beencountered by roller 31, ther'ebyallowing the margin to return .at all SPaQIfQSLbBYOH d the margin interval as e in mind, it may readily be well. In this instance, it may be desirable to provide the spacing lever 17Lwithf an individually depressible key 55 (shown indashed line in FIGURE 2) similar to key 21 on the margin return lever 18. which, in rare instances,

7 will permit spacing-even thoughthe spacer bar is pre conditioned for margin return.

lt will, of;cours,e, -be understood that various changes may be made in theform, details, arrangements and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of. myinventionas set'forth in the appended claims.

.What is claimed is:

V 1. In. an electric typewriter having a spacer bar, a carriage for relatively advancing typing positions with respect to the type as it is used, and a carriage return mechanism, the combination of an elongated pivoted linking device adjacent said spacerbar and adapted-to be pivoted there- 'hynand having-a portion in close proximity to said return mechanism and in abuttable relation thereto, andvmeans 20 of margin return lever 18, depending uponthe-lateral position of the margin return rod. 43. With the rod in the normal position of FIGURE 1, it is evident that the spacing lever will be actuated, thus allowing the: normal usual operation of the typewriter when the spacer bar is depressed If, however, the typing'has; I

continued to the position where the cam actuator has actuated the rocker. lever, then the margin return rod will be'laterally shifted to the preconditioning position 4 shown in FIGURE Z Wherein the bend will no longer overlie foot projection 19 but rather bend 4.6 will overlie. foot projection 20. Thus, depressing the spacerbar' which, of course, will cause the typewriter marginto' retu n hereby typ ng he left ha d m gin may again tum r 22 is s t-upc 'thema gin top 12 su h; ha h rockerlever 25, and the'margin return rod 43 are actuated at the, beg nning of the aforementioned margin in rval, thcndep sing th spac r 1 ft r a Word has een finished w thin t e in r l, will pr v de im-L m diate ret rn of he-ca iage- Thus, a n'cww d i l not be started which would require more spaces than remain before the margin is encountered. -At the same time, he unnatu al act of. depres in t e :s

turn key is eliminated.

- may be positioned such' a sen I associated with said carriage and connected to said linkfingdevicfif to move the said linking device portion into abutting relationwith said returnmechanism when said carriage has reached a predetermined marginal position near the end of its advanced travel wherebyvon movement of said spacer barto pivot said linking device said returnmechanism would be actuated by said linking device. '2. In an electric typewriter :havingya spacer bar, a spacing lever, a rnovable margin stop and a margin .return lever, said typewriter also having a typng mechanism and paper holding carriage both of which "are adapted for relative movement therebet'wc en, an automatic margin return comprising, a laterally shiftable margin return rod will now cause the carriage return lever to be actuated adapted to be operably positioned with respect to said spacing lever and in the alternative with said margin return leve'r when moved to one of the two lateral positions,

7 arroperablc PQsitionwith respect to said spacing lever beinga normal position of said margin return rod, means "responsive to the position. of said movable margin stop that the carriage return rodiisi not actuated until two .or.

, three spaces remain in thexrriargin -ihterval,thus allowing the typist to type small two or :three letter wordsafter the warning bellr-rings and beforethe margin "limit is encountered. 'Thus'fdepression of the spacer bar within a'two or, three spaee. interval after the hell rings will amovernent rather thana'margin return;

for shifting' said margin return'rod out of said normal position to an, operable position with respect to said margin retu'rn'lever, and, means secured; to said spacerbar for despressing, said margin return rod when said spacer .bar is depressed whereby said margin return rod will in turn 1 actuateone of said spacing lever and said margin return lever depending upon the lateral positionof said margin return {rod as' predeterminedbythe position of said movable margin stop. v -3. In an electric typewriter. having a margin rack and movable margin stop,. a spacer bar, a spacing lever, and a margin return lever, an automatic margin return therefor comprising, alaterallyshiftable' margin return rod, adapted to be depressed upon depression of said space r bar; means normally urging'lsaid margin return rod to a normalbiased position, said margin'return rod being adapted to,;coact with said spacing lever when said margin return rod is in said normal biased positionrand to coa'ctwith said mar- ;gin return-leverwhen laterally shifted out of said biased position to apreconditioned position, an actuatoradapted to be fixedly secured to sai'd movable marginistop, and

mechanical linkage means r'esponsive to actuation by said actuator for laterally shifting said carriage return rod out of said biased position to said preconditioned position' 4. In an electric typewriter having a main frame, a spacer bar, a spacing lever and a margin return lever, said typewriter also having a carriage With a movable margin stop slidably mounted on a margin rack, an automatic margin return comprising,

(a) a margin return rod which is laterally shiftable from a normal position to a preconditioning position,

(b) a margin return rod actuator adapted to be secured to said spacer bar and actuate said margin return rod in a vertical direction, said margin return rod being adapted to actuate said spacing lever when in the normal lateral position and being adapted to actuate said margin return lever when laterally shifted to said preconditioning position,

(0) means for biasing said margin return rod to said normal position,

(of) a cam actuator adapted to be secured to said movable margin stop,

(e) a rocker lever adapted to be pivotally secured to said main frame and having a roller at one end actuable by said cam actuator,

f) a pivot lever adapted to be pivotally secured to said main frame and interconnected at one end with said rocker lever,

(g) and an elbow lever also adapted to be pivotally secured to said main frame and actuable by the other end of said pivot lever, said elbow lever when actuated causing said margin return rod to be shifted to said preconditioning position whereby one of said spacing lever and margin return lever will be actuated upon said spacer bar being subsequently depressed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Lomas June 11, 1918 Neidhardt Aug. 4, 1959 Chamberlain Aug. 7, 1962 

1. IN AN ELECTRIC TYPEWRITER HAVING A SPACER BAR, A CARRIAGE FOR RELATIVELY ADVANCING TYPING POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE TYPE AS IT IS USED, AND A CARRIAGE RETURN MECHANISM, THE COMBINATION OF AN ELONGATED PIVOTED LINKING DEVICE ADJACENT SAID SPACER BAR AND ADAPTED TO BE PIVOTED THEREBY AND HAVING A PORTION IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SAID RETURN MECHANISM AND IN ABUTTABLE RELATION THERETO, AND MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CARRIAGE AND CONNECTED TO SAID LINKING DEVICE TO MOVE THE SAID LINKING DEVICE PORTION INTO ABUTTING RELATION WITH SAID RETURN MECHANISM WHEN SAID CARRIAGE HAS REACHED A PREDETERMINED MARGINAL POSITION NEAR THE END OF ITS ADVANCED TRAVEL WHEREBY ON MOVEMENT OF SAID SPACER BAR TO PIVOT SAID LINKING DEVICE SAID RETURN MECHANISM WOULD BE ACTUATED BY SAID LINKING DEVICE. 